CLASS. WARFARE.
Hey, everybody! Rud here. It has been some time since I posted anything of substance in P2TM. But with this thread, I hope to lay the foundations for a grand return to the NS roleplay community!
Welcome to the brainstorming thread for Breaking the Ice - a post-apocalyptic dystopian drama roleplay based on the 2013 film Snowpiercer and the film's ongoing TNT adaptation/reboot of the same name. I've had this idea brewing for quite some time, and have already done quite a bit of worldbuilding. But I still need help deciding exactly where the focus of the RP should be. I've narrowed it down to two distinct storyline options, and I am hoping you will help me decide which route to pursue. Each of these options will incorporate broad themes like class warfare, politico-economic corruption, and the bonds of family/friendship/camaraderie.
Setting & Background Info
The RP will be set in 2046, eleven years after a stratospheric aerosol injection (CW-7) triggered an unprecedented period of global cooling and glaciation. Launched as part of a last-ditch effort to reverse the effects of climate change, the CW-7 solution backfires. Within a single year, the planet's average temperatures drop by almost 40°F, resulting in a mass extinction event. With temperatures continuing to fall, a privileged few 12,000 survivors retreat to Snowpiercer -- a luxury train owned by enigmatic billionaire and railroad magnate Edwin "Teflon" Turnbull. Several thousand stowaways are also able to force themselves aboard. Powered by the revolutionary "perpetual motion technology" of Turnbull's Eternal Engine, Snowpiercer consists of 5,001 cars and stretches over 300 miles long. The train, rigidly stratified based on passenger class and skillsets, represents a closed ecological system that can (theoretically) endure for millennia.
As in the TNT series, the self-contained society of Snowpiercer is divided into 4 distinct classes:
- First Class, representing less than 1% of the total population and mainly consisting of ultra-wealthy investors/associates of Edwin Turnbull before the Freeze. These mighty elites live at the very front of the train, with each family unit being entitled to their own private double-decker carriage to live out their years in grotesque opulence.
- Second Class, consisting of skilled and well-educated workers that represent an affluent management class or petty bourgeoisie. These are the scientists, doctors, lawyers, and white-collar highbrows who continue their labors in considerable comfort on the train. A number of celebrities and media figures were also able to pay their way into Second. About 2,000 passengers (around 13% of the train's total population) belong to this coveted class.
- Third Class, the largest and arguably most vital caste of passengers aboard Snowpiercer. Numbering around 10,000 citizens (roughly 66% of the population), the so-called "Thirdies" are the unskilled masses that keep the train functioning. Despite the vital nature of their work, they suffer far worse living conditions than their superiors in the upper classes. Third Class is heavily policed by the train's security forces, and Turnbull uses a number of underhanded methods to ensure none of them step out of line.
- "The Tail", an unofficial fourth class of about 3,000 stowaways who forced themselves onto the tail end of the train during Snowpiercer's departure from Chicago in 2036. These poor souls suffer the worst existence that Turnbull Industries has to offer. Crammed into just 20 cargo cars at the back, the "Tailies" are fed measly portions of composted protein to keep them alive so that they can be exploited for slave labor.
Edwin Turnbull, CEO of the eponymous Turnbull Industries before the Freeze, has ruled over the train with an iron fist for an entire decade. Key to the preservation of Turnbull's regime on Snowpiercer is the Security Department, which consists of two major subdivisions: the Train Guard and the Train Police.
The Train Guard is Snowpiercer's official military force. Led by Commander John Shaw, a retired Navy SEAL and PMC executive before the Freeze, the Guard consists of roughly 1,500 soldiers (often called "Jackboots" or "Jacks") tasked with maintaining order and eliminating security threats. Stationed at strategic locations throughout the train, the Jacks are called upon to deal with any riots or civil disturbances that spin out of the Train Police's control.
The Train Police is, obviously, the train's police service. Led by Chief Douglas Hessler, former Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, the Train Police consists of about 500 sworn officers (nicknamed "Bulls" by the populace) who operate independently from the Train Guard as civil policemen/policewomen. The majority of Train Police officers are uniformed beat cops, but an elite few work under Captain Naomi Langford as part of the Train Police Detective Bureau (TPDB, or DB for short). The DB is made up of three subunits, each led by a Detective Lieutenant:
- Detection Unit A, Larceny and Financial Crime: Led by Lieutenant Maxwell "Max" Urquhart, Unit A generally focusses on robbery and white collar crime aboard the train.
- Detection Unit B, Homicide and Violent Crime: Led by Lieutenant Ilona Sarkozy, Unit B handles violent offenses ranging from homicides to sexual assaults.
- Detection Unit C, Special Operations: Led by Lieutenant Gabriel "Gabe" Hanna, Unit C is the vaguely defined wild card of the Train Police force. Officially, Special Operations handles cases involving vice, organized crime, and "political offenses." Unsurprisingly, that lattermost specialty quickly led the unit to become an unofficial hit squad for the Turnbull regime. Over the years, Hanna and his close-knit crew have embedded themselves within the socio-political hierarchy of Snowpiercer. When they're not taking care of the ruling class's dirty work, they're cutting deals with the gangsters and corrupt officials they had originally sworn to put behind bars.
I have already created a rough summary of the train's physical layout, which is posted below. Detailed descriptions of each bullet point will be included once the actual OOC thread has launched.
Storyline Options
As mentioned above, I have two general ideas for this RP's storyline. Each will have players taking on completely different roles aboard the train, and will drastically impact the nature of the plot.
- Option 1 - The Turnbull Family: This option will primarily focus on the power dynamics of the Turnbull family and First Class in general. Players will assume the roles of Edwin Turnbull's children/grandchildren that accompanied him at Departure. The storyline will draw on many themes from shows like Succession, Game of Thrones, and House of Cards, combining family drama with a truly merciless political environment. Edwin is getting old, and his cult of personality is beginning falter. Dark times are on the horizon. The people of Snowpiercer want change, and their patience is running perilously thin. But the old man will not give up power easily. You, a member of the train's first family, will have to navigate through the coming power struggle whilst simultaneously advancing your own interests. Perhaps you are one of Edwin's loyalists who will fight to maintain the status quo. Or, maybe you want to replace the current regime with a dictatorship of your own. Of course, every family has its black sheep. You may reject the decadent corruption into which you were born, seeking genuine change aboard Snowpiercer for the betterment of the lower classes. And hey, you might just be a playboy who gives 0 shits about any of this. You're just looking to exploit your position for hedonistic pleasure.
I have already written a ton of lore regarding the history of Turnbull Industries, starting with the company's establishment in the early 19th century and continuing up until Departure in 2036. Players will be able to expand on that lore by developing their characters' roles within the Turnbull family and its corporate empire prior to the Freeze. This will entail a great deal of cooperative worldbuilding during the application process as the familial bonds between characters are fleshed out. - Option 2 - Special Operations: This option will focus on the activities of the train's police forces amidst the social unrest mentioned in Option 1. Players will take on the roles of officers with Detection Unit C (Special Operations). Whether out of social pressure, cynical disillusionment, or genuine malice, these individuals have become part of the corruption that festers throughout the Turnbull regime. But when a tumultuous series of events disturbs the established order, players will be forced to pick sides -- sides that will determine the future for the last of humankind. This represents the thriller/action-oriented option. As a result, players will be more distanced from the power dynamics of the train's upper echelon. But said dynamics will still exist in the background, and will have a substantial impact on the progression of the plot.
If any of you have other questions or ideas, please share! This is a general brainstorming thread, so I encourage the sharing of thoughts on how we can further develop the setting, plot, and themes of the roleplay. I have invited a bunch of people I've seen post kick ass stuff on P2TM to partake in this little project. But I'm sure there are many other great writers in this community who would contribute really cool ideas. So, if you've been invited, please feel free to invite others to participate as well! I trust y'all's judgment!
And cheers! It's good to be back!